This paper presents a status report of the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) on two crucial development parameters—inequality and poverty—that have a significant bearing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs; especially SDG-1 and SDG-10). The paper tracks the origins and movements of absolute and relative poverty, …
Sujay Mehdudia NEW DELHI: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora on Friday said that he had sought big time participation of Indian companies in the Russian oil and gas fields, particularly in East Siberia, and had expressed interest in importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Moscow to meet its …
This illustrated and compact brochure presents data on the impact of climate change in the Russian Arctic. The text compiles scientific observations, witness accounts from local residents, and data on current and foreseen damage due to climate change. Alas, the situation in the Arctic is alarming, and the forecasts are …
Here the authors report the first worldwide reconnaissance study of the presence and occurrence of pesticides in fruit-based soft drinks. While there are strict regulations and exhaustive controls for pesticides in fruits, vegetables, and drinking water, scarce attention has been paid to highly consumed derivate products, which may contain these …
Will Rotterdam Convention put controls over the killer mineral? PRODUCERS of chrysotile asbestos, India, Russia and Canada, will again try to scuttle any controls over the mineral under the Rotterdam Convention that allows countries to monitor and control trade and use of hazardous chemicals. Conference of parties (CoP-4) to the …
Russian biologist irina ermakova, whose research showed deadly effects of genetically modified soya on rats, spoke to savvy soumya misra about the experiments at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow On the effects of GM soya on rats The research determines a clear …
As George W. Bush stepped briskly into the White House for the signing ceremony in the afternoon of October 8, the gathering that included Ronen Sen, India's ambassador to the US, was aware that they were witnessing a rare and historic moment. Bush looked much the cat that got the …
Moscow doubts carbon trading can solve climate change because recent swings in stock and commodities prices show markets are unable to fix global problems, an official Russian document showed. The document, outlining Russian views on a new UN climate pact meant to be agreed in December 2009, also expressed scepticism …
An earthquake in the Caucasus mountains killed at least 13 people in Russia's Chechnya on Saturday and left hundreds of locals sheltering in tents the day before regional elections. "We must not forget that we have elections tomorrow," Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov told a briefing. "They must go ahead as …
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W. Bush meet in Hokkaido, Japan, on the sidelines of the G8 summit in July. AT the end of a three-day, marathon sitting at the second round of the Plenary Session of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group from September 4 to 6 in …
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement manufacturing are rising faster than the worst-case scenario drawn up by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). According to the latest worldwide carbon budget, released by the Global Carbon Project, CO2 levels rose by 3.5% a year between 2000 and 2007, …
Vladimir Radyuhin MOSCOW: Russia has reached agreement with South Korea to supply 10 billion cubic metres (BCM) of natural gas a year. The deal will help Russia diversify gas exports away from Europe, which seeks to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. Under the preliminary agreement, signed on Monday on …
Water is not distributed evenly over the globe. Fewer than 10 countries possess 60% of the world's available fresh water supply: Brazil, Russia, China, Canada, Indonesia, U.S., India, Columbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, local variations within countries can be highly significant. Less than 3% of the world's …
Climate change is changing all the rules in the Arctic. The polar ice cap is smaller by some 700,000 square miles than it was in the two decades before 2000. The annual melting of northern ice this year may well surpass last year's - the furthest retreat of Arctic ice …
The fight against global warming is in danger of being downgraded on more urgent fears over energy security, heightened by a Russian war with Georgia, and a global economic slowdown. Added to the mix -- politicians are faced with a rising clamour of complaints from voters over record fuel bills, …
Tatyana Sinitsyn It was a historic event. On July 29, humans reached the bottom of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest and cleanest fresh water lake, for the first time ever. Even if it had not reached the lake floor, the dive would deserve an entry in the Guinness Book of …
The world's largest gas company, Gazprom of Russia, and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) have signed an agreement for the development of Iran's oil and gas fields. This will give Gazprom access to the world's second-largest gas reserves. NIOC and Gazprom will cooperate in developing Iran's oil and gas …
A clean-power colossus hopes to grow even bigger Many investors believe there is gold in greenery. They see a sunny future for firms that generate power from solar panels, wind turbines and so forth. After all, their fuel is free, whereas the bills of power stations that run on coal …
